World / International Organizations Index

African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) - Objectives include: ensuring realisation of the objectives of the Lome Convention; defining a common stance for the ACP Group vis-à-vis the EEC; contributing to the development of greater and closer economic, social and cultural relations among developing countries and, to that end, cooperation between the ACP States in the fields of trade, science and technology, industry, transport and communications, education, training and research, information and communication, the environment, demography and human resources.

American Acedemy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) - Promoting service and study through analysis of critical social and intellectual issues and the development of practical policy alternatives, AAAS is an international learned society composed of leading scientists, scholars, artists, business people, and public leaders.

Amnesty International - A worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote internationally recognized human rights.

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) - An autonomous regional Pan-Arab development finance organization, (the Fund). Its membership consists of all states who are members of the League of Arab States. Its function is to assist the economic and social development of Arab countries through (1) financing development projects, with preference given to overall Arab development and to joint Arab projects; (2) encouraging the investment of private and public funds in Arab projects; and (3) providing technical assistance services for Arab economic and social development.

Arab League (League of Arab States) - The organization itself has no direct relations with the citizens of its member states. Instead, the League's charter states that it shall coordinate economic affairs, including commercial relations, communication,; cultural affairs, nationality, passports, and visas, social affairs, and health affairs of member countries.

Bank Information Center (BIC) - A non-governmental organization that provides information and strategic support to NGOs and social movements throughout the world on the projects, policies and practices of the World Bank and other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). BIC advocates for greater transparency, accountability and citizen participation at the MDBs.

Bernan - A leading distributor of essential publications from the United States government and intergovernmental organizations, and a respected publisher of critically acclaimed reference works based on government data. Bernan is the largest private distributor of U.S. government publications. Additionally, Bernan also represents some of the largest and most prolific publishers in the world, including the United Nations, the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, The Stationery Office, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, UNESCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and many others.

Bolivarian Alternative for the People of Our America (In Spanish: Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra America or ALBA) - An international cooperation organization based on the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is associated with socialist and social democratic governments and is an attempt at regional economic integration based on a vision of social welfare, bartering and mutual economic aid, rather than trade liberalization as with free trade agreements. The member nations are Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela.

Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) - Supports processes by which people, skills, technology, equipment, financial and economic resources are shifted from the military or the defense sector towards alternative, civilian purposes.

BRICS - The acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. Also see:

BRICS Information Centre - Serves as a leading independent source of information and analysis on the BRICS interaction and institutions.With the possible exception of Russia, the BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialised countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs.

The People’s Forum (TPF) on BRICS - A collective platform of several people’s movements, networks and civil society organisations from across India. TPF attempts to raise critical voices from below on social, ecological, political and economic concerns that are often ignored at inter-governmental processes such as BRICS.

Wikipedia: BRICS - As of 2015, the five BRICS countries represent over 3.6 billion people, or about 40% of the world population; all five members are in the top 25 of the world by population, and four are in the top 10.

Coalition for an International Criminal Court - Includes 2,500 civil society organizations in 150 different countries working in partnership to strengthen international cooperation with the ICC; ensure that the Court is fair, effective and independent; make justice both visible and universal; and advance stronger national laws that deliver justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) - A comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs. It publishes a wide range of scholarship from 1991 onward that includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, proceedings from conferences, books, journals and policy briefs.

Commonwealth Secretariat - The modern Commonwealth gradually evolved out of United Kingdom's imperial past, mainly through decolonisation, the effects of two world wars and changing patterns of international relations. From Africa to Asia, from Pacific shores to the Caribbean, the Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up 30% of the world's population.

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) - The CSCE, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is an independent U.S. Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE commitments. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is engaged in standard setting in fields including military security, economic and environmental cooperation, and human rights and humanitarian concerns.

Commonwealth - The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under the age of 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world's largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-one of its members are small states, many of them island nations. Also see the Commonwealth Network.

Conscience International - A a non-governmental, private voluntary organization (NGO-PVO), incorporated in the State of Georgia, USA. Its purpose is to implement humanitarian relief programs internationally through cooperative networking with agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Council of the European Union (Consilium) - The Council is the EU institution where the Member States' government representatives sit, i.e. the ministers of each Member State with responsibility for a given area. The composition and frequency of Council meetings vary depending on the issues dealt with. Foreign ministers, for example, meet roughly once a month in the Foreign Affairs Council. Similarly, economics and finance ministers meet once a month in the Council which handles economic and financial affairs, called the Ecofin Council. Acts which are directly relevant to the lives of EU citizens and have a considerable international impact are adopted by the Council, usually in conjunction with the European Parliament.

Court of Justice (EU) - It is the responsibility of the Court of Justice to ensure that the law is observed in the interpretation and application of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the provisions laid down by the competent Community institutions. To enable it to carry out that task, the Court has wide jurisdiction to hear various types of action. The Court has competence, inter alia, to rule on applications for annulment or actions for failure to act brought by a Member State or an institution, actions against Member States for failure to fulfil obligations, references for a preliminary ruling and appeals against decisions of the Court of First Instance.

CTBTO Preparatory Commission - The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO Preparatory Commission) is an international organization established by the States Signatories to the Treaty on 19 November 1996. It carries out the necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the Treaty, and prepares for the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty. The Commission's main task is the establishment of the 337 facility International Monitoring System and the International Data Centre, and the development of operational manuals, including for on-site inspections.

DiEM25 - A pan-European, cross-border movement to repair the European Union.

Economic and Social Council - The principal organ, under the authority of the UN General Assembly, to promote: (a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; (b) solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and (c) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

DiEM25 - Working for transparency and accountability of European Union.

EFTA Surveillance Authority - Monitors compliance with European Economic Area rules in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling them to participate in the European internal market.

EURActiv - European Union news and policy positions. Also, access more than 100 EU Actors with their full details, including contacts in Professional and Federations, Corporations, NGOs, Media, Countries and Regions, and Professionals and Services.

EUROPA - EUROPA is the portal site of the European Union. It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. Users can also consult all legislation currently in force or under discussion, access the websites of each of the EU institutions and find out about the policies administered by the European Union under the powers devolved to it by the Treaties. Parliament, Council, Commission, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors and other bodies of the European Union (EU). As the European Union's executive body, the European Commissionmanages policies and negotiates international trade and cooperation agreements. Also see:

EuropaWorld - Reports on international development and humanitarian actions of European institutions, Governments and NGOs, including European based United Nations agencies.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia. EBRD is owned by 60 countries and two intergovernmental institutions. But despite its public sector shareholders, it invests mainly in private enterprises, usually together with commercial partners.

European Commission - Represents the general interest of the EU and is the driving force in proposing legislation (to Parliament and the Council), administering and implementing EU policies, enforcing EU law (jointly with the Court of Justice) and negotiating in the international arena. Some popular links here:

European Council - The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. It is not one of the EU's legislating institutions, so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws. Instead it sets the EU's policy agenda, traditionally by adopting 'conclusions' during European Councilmeetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take.

European Parliament - Together with the Council, the Parliament adopts or amends proposals from the Commission. Parliament also supervises the work of the Commission and adopts the European Union's budget. Beyond these official powers the Parliament also works closely with national parliaments of EU countries. Provides full text and/or bibliographical references of a document adopted by Parliament, overview of the various documents relating to the European Union (EU) legislative process, information about members of the European Parliament, information about the EU institution. Also see European Parliament: Committees and EP NewsHub.

European Union - Official website. Created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict. The result was the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since then, a huge single market has been created.

Global Youth Connect - Working to build a community of youth working to defend human rights and social justice and to inspire and empower a new generation of youth to act for meaningful social change.

Green Net - Supports a progressive community working for peace, the environment, civil rights and social justice, through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Group of 77 - As the largest Third World coalition in the United Nations, the Group of 77 provides the means for the developing world to articulate and promote its collective economic interests and enhance its joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues in the United Nations system, and promote economic and technical cooperation among developing countries (ECDC/TCDC).

InfoNation - Allows you to view and compare up-to-date statistical data for the Member States of the United Nations.

Inner City Press - Investigative journalism from the United Nations, including the World Bank, the IMF, the UN Development Program and the five continents.

InterAction - The largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. With more than 160 members operating in every developing country, it works to overcome poverty, exclusion and suffering by advancing social justice and basic dignity for all.

International Criminal Court (ICC) - The ICC was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998, when 120 States participating in the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court adopted the Statute. This is the first ever permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished.

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) - Humanist, ethical culture, rationalist, secularist and freethought groups: the IHEU is an international NGO with Special Consultative Status with the UN (New York, Geneva, Vienna), General Consultative Status at UNICEF (New York) and the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), and maintains operational relations with UNESCO (Paris).

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) - Information on national parliaments. Over a hundred national parliaments are currently members of the IPU. The IPU supports the efforts of the United Nations, whose objectives it shares, and works in close co-operation with it. It also co-operates with regional inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as with international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations motivated by the same ideals.

International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) - An NGO whose aim is to encourage and facilitate cooperation in all aspects of arctic research, in all countries engaged in arctic research and in all areas of the arctic region.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - An independent intergovernmental, science and technology-based organization, in the United Nations family, that serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation.

International Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance (IDEA) - An intergovernmental organization with member states across all continents, seeks to support sustainable democracy in both new and long-established democracies. IDEA draws on comparative experience, analyses democracy trends and assistance, and develops policy options, tools and guidelines relating to political participation, electoral systems, political parties, and post-conflict democracy building.

International Criminal Court (ICC) - The ICC was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998, when 120 States participating in the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court adopted the Statute. This is the first ever permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished. Also see:

International Law Commission - Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 to promote the progressive development of international law and its codification. The Commission, which meets annually, is composed of 34 members who are elected by the General Assembly for five year terms and who serve in their individual capacity, not as representatives of their Governments.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - An international organization of 184 member countries established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment. Its Executive Board (the Board) is responsible for conducting the day-to-day business of the IMF. It is composed of 24 Directors, who are appointed or elected by member countries or by groups of countries, and the Managing Director, who serves as its Chairman. See Bretton Woods Project, which works to scrutinise and influence the World Bank and IMF and Researching the Internatilnal Monetary Fund, a research tool for documents and statistics of the IMF.

IPENet (International Political Economy Network) - IPENet joins students, faculty, professionals, community workers, international bankers, trade unionists, development workers, and other people around the world interested in the workings of the global political economy.

Local Government International Bureau (LGIB) - European and international arm of the Local Government Association for England and Wales (LGA). The Bureau also represents the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA). LGIB promotes the Associations' interests to policy makers in the EU and international organisations, and (supports councillors appointed to the Committee of the Regions and other bodies.

Munich Security Conference - A major global forum for the discussion of security policy. Each February, it brings together more than 450 senior decision-makers from around the world, including heads-of-state, ministers, leading personalities of international and non-governmental organizations, as well as high ranking representatives of industry, media, academia, and civil society, to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges.

NAFTA Secretariat - The NAFTA Secretariat, comprised of the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican Sections pursuant to Article 2002, Chapter 20 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is responsible for the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the Agreement.

National Peace Corps Association - The national alumni association for the people who have served as volunteers and staff in the Peace Corps whose mission is to continue to work for world peace, understanding, and well-being, with an emphasis on bringing the world back home.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - An alliance of 28 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April 1949. In accordance with the Treaty, the fundamental role of NATO is ostensibly to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. Also see:

North Atlantic Treaty (aka The Washington Treaty) - Forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members. Collective defence is at the heart of the Treaty and is enshrined in Article 5.

Allied Command Operation - At the strategic level, the NATO Command Structure (NCS) encompasses two Commands - Allied Command Operations (ACO) responsible for planning and execution of all NATO operations and Allied Command Transformation (ACT) responsible for NATO's transformation. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) located in Mons, Belgium, is the strategic level headquarters of ACO and commanded by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). SACEUR assumes the overall command of operations at the strategic level and exercises his responsibilities from SHAPE. He issues strategic military direction to the subordinate commanders. SACEUR is responsible for the preparation and conduct of all Alliance military operations, including routine operational activities and other non-operational tasks in accordance with the division of responsibilities between both SCs.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) - Responsible to NATO's highest military authority, the Military Committee, for the conduct of all NATO military operations. SACEUR, traditionally a United States Flag or General officer, is dual-hatted as Commander of the US European Command. His NATO command is exercised from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) at Casteau, near Mons, Belgium.

Office of the High Representative (OHR) - The chief civilian peace implementation agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement designated the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement on behalf of the international community. He is also tasked with co-ordinating the activities of the civilian organisations and agencies operating in the Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) - Groups 29 member countries in an organization that provides governments a setting in which to discuss, develop and perfect economic and social policy. For more than 40 years, the OECD has been one of the world's largest and most reliable sources of comparable statistics, and economic and social data. As well as collecting data, the OECD monitors trends, analyses and forecasts economic developments and researches social changes or evolving patterns in trade, environment, agriculture, technology, taxation and more.

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - The largest regional security organization in the world with 55 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. The Organization employs about 3,000 staff in 18 missions and field activities located in South-eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They work 'on the ground' to facilitate political processes, prevent or settle conflicts, and promote civil society and the rule of law.

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) - An international organization grouping fifty seven States which have pooled their resources to secure the progress and well-being of their peoples and of all Muslims in the world.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - An international Organization of eleven developing countries which are heavily reliant on oil revenues as their main source of income. The current Members are Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

P5+1 [aka E3+3 or E3/EU+3] - A group of six world powers which, in 2006, joined the diplomatic efforts with Iran with regard to its nuclear program. The term refers to the P5 or five permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus Germany. The P5+1 is often referred to as the E3+3 (or E3/EU+3) by European countries, which is also the nomenclature used in the text of agreements with Iran.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which held its first session on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary Assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an intergovernmental treaty. The Assembly is one of the two statutory organs of the Council of Europe, which is composed of a Committee of Ministers (the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, meeting usually at the level of their deputies) and an Assembly representing the political forces in its member states.

Partners of the Americas - The Americas is the largest volunteer-based organization in the western hemisphere engaged in social, economic, and cultural development.

PeaceWomen Project of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - romotes the role of women in preventing conflict, and the equal and full participation of women in all efforts to create and maintain international peace and security. PeaceWomen facilitates monitoring of the UN system, information sharing and the enabling of meaningful dialogue for positive impact on women's lives in conflict and post-conflict environments.

Publications Office of the European Union - The official publisher of the institutions and other bodies of the European Union:European Parliament,Council of Ministers, European Commission, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, Economic and Social Committee (ECSC), Committee of the Regions, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European Investment Bank (EIB) and other agencies.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - SAARC was established when its Charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States.

STRATFOR - A leading global intelligence firms, providing clients with geopolitical analysis and industry and country forecasts to mitigate risk and identify opportunities.

Third World Network (TWN) - International network of organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North- South issues. Its objectives are to conduct research on economic, social and environmental issues pertaining to the South; to publish books and magazines; to organize and participate in seminars; and to provide a platform representing broadly Southern interests and perspectives at international fora such as the UN conferences and processes.

Transparency International (TI) - TI, through its International Secretariat and more than 90 independent national chapters around the world, works at both the national and international level to curb both the supply and demand of corruption. This work This includes the monitoring of conventions concluded within the framework of the OECD, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Organisation of American States. Special emphasis is placed on monitoring the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials.

Trilateral Commission - Formed in 1973 by private citizens of Japan, Europe (European Union countries), and North America (United States and Canada) to foster closer cooperation among these core industrialized areas of the world with shared leadership responsibilities in the wider international system. Originally established for three years, its work has been renewed for successive triennia (three-year periods), most recently for a triennium to be completed in 2012. See Membership. Also see Wikipedia article.

U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York - The United States Mission to the United Nations is located in temporary quarters at 140 East 45th Street (between Third and Lexington Avenues) while permanent offices are being re-built across the street from United Nations Headquarters. From this building the United States delegation to the United Nations, along with a staff of more than 100 persons, carries out our nation's participation in the world body. Ambassadors represent the United States in meetings at the United Nations. They engage in direct consultation and negotiation with other United Nations delegations in efforts to gain support for the United States position on issues under debate. Almost all United Nations member nations maintain missions in New York City.

UNESCO Libraries Portal - International information gateway for librarians and library users. Includes directory compilations for information on UNESCO, the United Nations, national, parliamentary and government organizations, academic organizations, regional organizations, and international organizations.

Group of 77 - The largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.

PaperSmart Portal - Available in all six (6) official languages, the portal provides secure web-based access to documents, statements and meeting-related information. View documents or statements online and submit statements for meetings.

UN Alliance of Civilizations - The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. And it hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in any society.

UN and Civil Society - Gateway site to various elements of the UN involved in partnerships with civil society: business, the media, and NGOs.

UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) - A political mission established by the 2003 UN Security Council Resolution 1500 at the request of the Government of Iraq. Mandated to advise Iraq's government on advancing inclusive, political dialogue and national reconciliation, assisting in the electoral process and in the planning for a national census, facilitating regional dialogue between Iraq and its neighbours, and promoting the protection of human rights and judicial and legal reform.

UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) - Core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. UNCITRAL was tasked by the General Assembly to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade.

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development. It functions as a forum for intergovernmental deliberations, supported by discussions with experts and exchanges of experience, aimed at consensus building. It undertakes research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts. It provides technical assistance tailored to the specific requirements of developing countries, with special attention to the needs of the least developed countries and of economies in transition.

UN Dag Hammarskjold Library - UN library in New York dedicated to serve the information needs of UN Member States delegates and secretariat staff. Search for UN documents.

UN Development Policy and Analysis Division - This is the main development research division of the UN secretariat. The Division's research aims to contribute to a strengthening of international cooperation for the economic and social development of all countries and to foster their effective integration into the world economy in the context of the UN Development Agenda.

UN Dispatch - Commentary and coverage on the UN and UN-related issues.

UN Division for Sustainable Development - Promotes sustainable development as the substantive secretariat to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and through technical cooperation and capacity building at international, regional and national levels.

UN Documents - By category, by meetings, official documents, or search for UN documents.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - Principal UN organ, under the authority of the General Assembly, to promote: (a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; (b) solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and (c) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - Coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, 10 functional commissions and five regional commissions; receives reports from 11 UN funds and programmes (click here for list of subsidiary bodies); and issues policy recommendations to the UN system and to Member States. Under the UN Charter, ECOSOC is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. ECOSOC's purview extends to over 70 per cent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - This site describes UNESCO programs and activities (educational, sciences, culture, communication, etc.), current events, press releases and publications. It gives access to a bibliography of UNESCO documents and publications and to various databases and statistics.

Archives - Documents the organization's history and provides access to all official correspondence, documents, publications, multimedia and electronic records.

Index Translationum - UNESCO's database of book translations. Books have been translated for thousands of years, with no central record of the fact. The League of Nations established a record of translations in 1932. In 1946, the United Nations superseded the League and UNESCO was assigned the Index. In 1979, the records were computerised.

Library - The UNESCO Library provides reference and information services, including research, to the Organization as a whole, as well as to the general public with an interest in UNESCO's fields of competence.

UNESDOC Database - Contains 120 000 free downloadable documents in six official languages covering all UNESCO fields of competence since 1945 and most of the publications edited by the Organization.

UNESCO Publishing - Presents titles currently for sale in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic published or co-published by UNESCO. These include books, multimedia (DVDs, CD-Roms, VHS videos), periodicals, and scientific maps for professionals.

UN General Assembly - The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all Member States, each of which has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new Members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are reached by a simple majority. Also see:

UN Human Development Reports - Launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development process in terms of economic debate, policy and advocacy. Global, regional and national reports.

UN Human Rights - Information and links to issues related to genocide, indigenous peoples, disability, children in armed conflict and other aspects of human rights.

UN Human Rights Council - An inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.

UN
Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict - Mandate to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014, whether before, during or after, to establish the facts and circumstances of such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and to identify those responsible.

UN Instruments and Other Relevant International Standards on Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing - International efforts to curb money-laundering and the financing of terrorism are the reflection of a strategy aimed at, on the one hand, attacking the economic power of criminal or terrorist organizations and individuals in order to weaken them by preventing their benefiting from, or making use of, illicit proceeds and, on the other hand, at forestalling the nefarious effects of the criminal economy and of terrorism on the legal economy.

UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) - A United Nations entity established in 1967 to support countries worldwide in preventing crime and facilitating criminal justice. UNICRI's programmes aim to promote national self-reliance and the development of institutional capabilities. To this end, UNICRI provides a one-stop facility offering high-level expertise in crime prevention and criminal justice problems.

UN International Labour Organization (ILO) - The ILO is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues. Also seeConventions Adopted by the International Labour Conference.

UN International Law Commission - Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 to promote the progressive development of international law and its codification. The Commission, which meets annually, is composed of 34 members who are elected by the General Assembly for five year terms and who serve in their individual capacity, not as representatives of their Governments.

UN Journal - The Journal of the United Nations is published at Headquarters, New York, by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM). The Journal contains the daily programme of meetings at Headquarters of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and other bodies scheduled to take place on a given day, as well as identifies the symbols of major documents to be considered at the meetings -- even when the documents may not yet have been officially released. It also summarizes treaty actions which have been undertaken at the previous day by States in respect of multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General. Such information appears under the heading "Signatures, Ratifications, etc."

UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) - Set up in 1949, UNMOGIP was deployed in January of that year to supervise the ceasefire agreed between India and Pakistan in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Since renewed hostilities in 1971, UNMOGIP monitors the ceasefire called for by the United Nations Security Council.

UN Millenium Project - Commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people.

UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) - Created through the adoption of Security Council resolution 1284 of 17 December 1999. UNMOVIC replaces the former UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) and continues the latter's mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological weapons and missiles with a range of more than 150 km), and to operate a system of ongoing monitoring and verification to check Iraq's compliance with its obligations not to reacquire the same weapons prohibited to it by the Security Council.

UN National Accounts Section of the United Nations Statistics Division - The aim of United Nations System of National Accounts (UNSNA) is to provide an integrated, complete system accounts enabling international comparisons of all significant economic activity. The suggestion is that individual countries use UNSNA as a guide in constructing their own national accounting systems, to promote international comparability.

UN Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN) - Serves as a portal in public administration and finance throughout the world. Provides information, advisory, training, conferencing and directory services for its users in the areas of public economic policies, institutional buildings, civil service/public sector reform, management innovation and development, public finance.

UN News & Media: Photo - Contains a selection of images from the United Nations photo collection, which contains approximately 800,000 photographs dating back to the mid-1940s chronicling the history of the organization and its work.

UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCP) - A global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. The ODCCP is the umbrella organization that makes up the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP). It also includes the Terrorism Prevention Branch and Global Programs against Corruption, Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Trafficking in Human Beings.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA-oPt) - Established in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza caused by military incursions and closures - mobility restrictions imposed on the Palestinian civilians, local and international service providers. OCHA-oPt aims to improve the humanitarian situation by enhancing coordination between agencies to ensure effective distribution of humanitarian assistance.

UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) - The internal oversight body of the United Nations. Established in 1994 by the General Assembly, the office assists the Secretary-General in fulfilling his oversight responsibilities in respect of the resources and staff of the Organization through the provision of audit, investigation, inspection, and evaluation services.

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - Provides information on drug control and crime prevention. Specific topics include drug abuse and demand reduction; drug supply reduction; crime prevention and criminal justice; treaty and legal affairs, analysis and statistics; news and publications; and links to 22 UNODC field offices. Also see the UNODC Legal Library.

UN Official Documents Search (ODS) - ODS covers all types of official United Nations documentation, beginning in 1993. Older UN documents are, however, added to the system on a daily basis. ODS also provides access to the resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council from 1946 onwards. The system does not contain meetings coverage and press releases, UN sales publications, the United Nations Treaty Series or information brochures issued by the Department of Public Information. Also find more detailed information.

UN Peacekeeping - Peacekeeping is a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace. UN peacekeepers-soldiers and military officers, police and civilian personnel from many countries-monitor and observe peace processes that emerge in post-conflict situations and assist conflicting parties to implement the peace agreement they have signed. Such assistance comes in many forms, including promoting human security, confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law, and economic and social development. The Charter of the United Nations gives the UN Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations. Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself with troops serving under UN operational command. In other cases, where direct UN involvement is not considered appropriate or feasible, the Council authorizes regional and other international organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or "coalitions of willing countries" to implement certain peacekeeping or peace enforcement functions. Also see Current Operations, News and Resources.

UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) - A technology-intensive programme delivering imagery analysis and satellite solutions to relief and development organisations within and outside the UN system to help make a difference in critical areas such as humanitarian relief, human security, strategic territorial and development planning.

UN Permanent Observers - Non-member States having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining permanent observer missions at Headquarters:

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) - Supports developing countries, at their request, to improve access to and the quality of reproductive health care, particularly family planning, safe motherhood, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Priorities include protecting young people, responding to emergencies, and ensuring an adequate supply of condoms and other essentials

UN Publications - Responsible for the marketing and sale of publications produced by the United Nations.

UN Pulse - Just-released UN information, major reports, publications and documents. Created and maintained by a team of reference librarians at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library in New York, UN Pulse is updated as new information is published and received.

Western European and Others Group (WEOG), with 28 member states, plus 1 member state as observer.

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) - Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees. UNRWA is unique in terms of its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees and its contributions to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees.

UN Scholars' Workstation - Developed by the Yale University Library and the Social Science Statistical Laboratory. A collection of texts, finding aids, data sets, maps, and pointers to print and electronic information. Subject coverage includes disarmament, economic and social development, environment, human rights, international relations, international trade, peacekeeping, and population and demography

Security Council Report (SCR) - Independent high-quality information about the activities of the United Nations Security Council and its subsidiary bodies. Publishes objective analytical monthly reports on the prospective programme of work of the Security Council (Monthly Forecasts). These are supplemented by longer published reports on key thematic issues on the agenda of the Council (Cross-Cutting Reports) and an online electronic feed of insights on developments in the Council (What's-in-Blue).

UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights - The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council and undertakes the following main tasks: (1) conducting research and analysis to be presented in separate thematic reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly; (2) undertaking country visits and reporting on the situation in those countries in relation to the concerns of the mandate; (3) sending letters to governments and other relevant entities in situations in which violations of human rights of people living in extreme poverty are alleged to have taken place. Philip Alston is UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (2014-2020).

UN Treaty Collection - Every treaty and every international agreement entered into by any member of the United Nations.

UN Treaty Handbook - This Handbook has been prepared as a guide to the Secretary-General's practice as a depositary of multilateral treaties, and to treaty law and practice in relation to the registration function. It is designed for the use of Member States, secretariats of international organizations, and others involved in assisting governments on the technical aspects of participation in the multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, and the registration of treaties with the Secretariat under Article 102. It is intended to promote wider State participation in the multilateral treaty framework. The Handbook commences with a description of the depositary function, followed by an overview of the steps involved in a State becoming a party to a treaty. The following section highlights the key events of a multilateral treaty, from deposit with the Secretary-General to termination. Section 5 outlines the registration and filing and recording functions of the Secretariat, and how a party may go about submitting a treaty for registration or filing and recording. The final substantive section, section 6, contains practical hints on contacting the Treaty Section on treaty matters, and flow charts for carrying out various common treaty actions. Several annexes appear towards the end of this Handbook, containing various sample instruments for reference in concluding treaties or performing treaty actions. A glossary listing common terms and phrases of treaty law and practice, many of which are used in this Handbook, is also included.

UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - The UPR is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

UN Web TV - United Nations live and on-demand. United Nations-DPI/NMD-Radio and Television Service, Multimedia Resources Unit.

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Established by resolution 1991/42 of the former Commission on Human Rights. It is mandated to investigate cases of deprivation of liberty imposed arbitrarily or otherwise inconsistently with the relevant international standards set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or in the relevant international legal instruments accepted by the States concerned.

UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) - A joint product of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the five United Nations regional commissions. It provides an overview of recent global economic performance and short-term prospects for the world economy and of some key global economic policy and development issues. One of its purposes is to serve as a point of reference for discussions on economic, social and related issues taking place in various United Nations entities during the year.

UN World Health Organization (WHO) - The United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. Also see WHO Research Tools page.

UN World Heritage Centre - UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to encourage countries to sign the Convention and ensure the protection of their own natural and cultural heritage and to encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List.

UN World Income Inequality Database - Collects and stores information on income inequality for developed, developing, and transition countries. The database and its documentation are available on this website.

UN World Statistics Pocketbook - An annual compilation of key statistical indicators prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Over 50 indicators have been collected from more than 20 international statistical sources and are presented in one-page profiles for 217 countries or areas of the world. The topics covered include: agriculture, balance of payments, education, energy, environment, food, gender, health, industrial production, information and communication, international finance, international tourism, international trade, labour, migration, national accounts, population and prices.

UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) - Currently there is no global system in place to produce a systematic, continuing, integrated and comprehensive global picture of freshwater and its management. The UN system, through the ACC/SCWR, has the mandate, credibility and capacity to take on the task of systematically marshalling global water knowledge and expertise to develop over time the necessary assessment of the global water situation, as the basis for action to resolve water crises. The WWAP, building on the achievements of the many previous endeavours, focuses on assessing the developing situation as regards freshwater throughout the world. The primary output of the WWAP is the periodic World Water Development Report (WWDR).

UNEP/WMO Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - The role of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. It does not carry out new research nor does it monitor climate related data. It bases its assessment mainly on published and peer reviewed scientific technical literature.

UNEP/GRID-Arendal - An official United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) centre located in Southern Norway, with out posted offices in Geneva, Ottawa and Stockholm.

Western European Union (WEU) - A collective self-defence and economic, social and cultural collaboration between signatories that include: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Italy.

World Bank - A vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Offers loans, advice, and an array of customized resources to more than 100 developing countries and countries in transition. Also see Bretton Woods Project, which works to scrutinise and influence the World Bank and IMF. Two related projects:

World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty - Annual conference "brings together representatives from governments, civil society, academia, the private sector and the development community to discuss issues of concern to land practitioners and policymakers worldwide. The conference aims to foster dialogue and sharing of good practices by showcasing the diversity of reforms, approaches and experiences that are being implemented in the land sector around the world." The first step in the new process is conducted by the respective Evaluation and Suspension Officer, who shall determine: (1) whether the evidence submitted by the Integrity Vice Presidency (INTVP) in a proposed Notice of Sanctions Proceedings is sufficient to support a finding that a respondent engaged in any corrupt, fraudulent, coercive, collusive or obstructive practice in a World Bank Group project, or violated a material term of the Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP) Terms and Conditions; and (2) whether the respondent should be temporarily suspended from bidding on Bank-financed contracts pending the final outcome of the sanctions process. In addition, the Evaluation and Suspension Officer will recommend a sanction to be imposed on the respondent, which would become effective only if the respondent elects not to challenge the allegations against it by appealing to the Sanctions Board. In the second part of the two-step process, the Sanctions Board members will review and make final decisions regarding sanctions cases when a respondent contests the allegations and/or the decision of the respective Evaluation and Suspension Officer of the World Bank Group.

World Bank eAtlas of Global Development - Maps and graphs more than 175 thematically organized indicators for over 200 countries, letting you visualize and compare progress on the most important development challenges facing our world. Most indicators cover several decades, so you can see, for example, how "life expectancy at birth" has improved from 1960 up through the latest year. This online companion to the sourcebook Atlas of Global Development, Third Edition, allows you to visualize and analyze a wider variety of data in greater depth, over a longer time period.

World Bank: Mapping for Results - Provides mashed up Google Maps with World Bank data to give you a visual entry point to browse its projects, news, statistics and public information center by country.

World Bank Carbon Finance Unit (CFU) - CFU uses money contributed by governments and companies in OECD countries to purchase project-based greenhouse gas emission reductions in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The emission reductions are purchased through one of the CFU's carbon funds on behalf of the contributor, and within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI).

World Economic Forum - Provides a collaborative framework for the world's leaders to address global issues, engaging particularly it corporate members in global citizenship.

KWSnet is an Internet subject directory providing special attention to U.S. national and international news, the arts, computing, culture, environment, law, literature, media, politics, science and technology. Based in San Francisco, California, KWSnet contains over 125,000 annotated links to resources worldwide. Use Search KWSnet, located at the top of each page, to search within this site. Use Ctrl-F (Windows) or ⌘-F (Mac) to search within individual pages.

KWSnet Twitter provides news, culture, environment, media, politics, sci-tech, society, #art, #comics, #politicalcartoon, #illustration, #botd, #obit, but KWSnet is taking an extended leave of absence from the social networking service; it is not posting there at this time.

My Zotero Library provides news articles, primary and secondary sources, and bibliographic information for your research. More information on Zotero, a powerful, easy-to-use research tool, can be found at its site. Also recommended, subscribe to My Zotero Library RSS content for the latest updates.

KWSnet is completely non-commercial. It has no commercial objective or emphasis. Instead, it is intended for educational purposes, research, and personal use. It is updated regularly.